1996 Dodge Intrepid Engine Problems

REPEATED OVERHEATING PROBLEMS RESULTED IN REPLACING MY RADIATOR TWO TIMES, THERMOSTAT THREE TIMES AND THERMOSTAT W/ BREATHER HOUSING TWO TIMES. COOLING SYSTEM INCLUDES EXTERNAL METAL PIPES WHICH HELP CIRCULATE COOLANT TO HEATER. THE PIPES ARE HIDDEN FROM CLEAR VIEW AND WHEN MINE SPRUNG LEAKS DUE TO THEIR PLACEMENT THE LEAKS WERE DIAGNOSED AS BEING BLOWN HEAD/HEAD GASKET BY THREE SEPARATE SHOPS. REPLACEMENT OF PIPES SOLVED OVERHEATING. MOISTURE GETS TRAPPED IN AND AROUND THE FRAME AND SUBFRAME AREAS WHERE THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS ARE LOCATED AND ALLOWS FOR UNNECESSARY PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF ALL THE MOUNTS, BUSHINGS, MAIN FRAME AND SUBFRAME. THIS HIDDEN CONDITION HAS RESULTED IN ALL MOUNTS NEEDING REPLACEMENT, TRANSMISSION DROPPING, FRONT INNER&OUTER TIE RODS AND BUSHINGS GOING OUT, RACK N PINION PROBLEMS AND THE SUBFRAME COLLAPSING. DOCUMENTED RECORDS SHOW THAT FROM 2004 THROUGH 2008 ON AVERAGE I DROVE 7000 MILES A YEAR. IN THAT 28000 MILES I REPLACED ALL MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, ALL 4 INNER&OUTER TIE ROD BUSHINGS/ENDS TWICE, RADIATOR TWICE, THERMOSTAT HOUSING TWICE, COOLANT PIPES ONCE AND HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES. I AM REPLACING SUBFRAME, TRANSMISSION MOUNTS AND FRONT AXLE AGAIN. I CONTINUE FIXING THE CAR BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE IT BUT I AM GETTING VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE STEERING, AXLE OR BRAKES GIVING OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN HEAVIER TRAFFIC. SO CONCERNED MY DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO FAMILY MEMBERS IN CASE OF FATALITY RESULTING FROM THE DEFECTS MENTIONED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246579

Incident

Oct 7, 2008

Mileage

148,689 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. AS OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,301.

NHTSA ID

10202880

Incident

Mar 1, 2007

Mileage

86,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER. ALL REPAIRS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED. OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING THAT NO ONE WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE. MY HUSBAND WENT OUT TO START THE CAR AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 12 HOURS AND THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES. THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS A SNOW BANK OR OUR HOUSE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOSS AS WELL. THROUGH THE INTERNET I HAVE DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR SYMPTOMS THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED, WITHOUT REPAIR, BUT ARE LISTED IN RECALL INFORMATION. WE ARE GETTING THE RUN AROUND ABOUT HOW TO PURSUE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL PROVISIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10188081

Incident

Mar 4, 2007

MY 1996 DODGE INTREPID RECEIVED A CLEAN AIR WAIVER IN THE YEARS 2003 AND 2004. THE OBD COULD NOT BE READ BY THE EMISSIONS STATIONS. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE TRIED TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT RESOLUTION. THE CLEAN AIR FORCE SAYS THE SOFTWARE IS UPDATED AND SHOULD BE READABLE AND DODGE INSISTS IT'S THE CAF SOFTWARE. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (18-005-01) FOR 1996 DODGE VEHICLES FAILING FOR READINESS. I KEEP FAILING FOR READINESS, AND THE DEALER NOR CLEAN AIR HAS FURTHER INFORMATION. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS WHILE A MASTER MECHANIC TRIES TO SOLVE MY SITUATION. THE LENGTH OF TIME TELLS ME A FAVORABLE REPLY MAY NOT BE FORTHCOMING. I WAS TOLD I CAN NOT SELL THE CAR, AS THE EMISSIONS ISSUE WILL ALWAYS BE MY (THE OWNERS) PROBLEM. I CAN NOT GET A TAG FOR THIS CAR AND THEREFORE LEGALLY CAN NOT DRIVE IT. WHAT CAN I DO? *JB

NHTSA ID

10184602

Incident

Feb 22, 2007

Mileage

75,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 98V184000 FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE RECALL INDICATED THE DEALER WOULD REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL O-RINGS, AND REINFORCE THE OUTLET ON PASSENGER'S SIDE FUEL RAIL. ALSO, IT INDICATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE SHOWED SIGNS OF FUEL LEAKAGE ON THE OUTLET FUEL RAIL THE UPPER AND LOWER INJECTOR O-RINGS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE RECALL LEAD THE CONTACT TO BELIEVE THAT THE OUTLET FUEL RAIL, THE UPPER AND LOWER INJECTOR O-RINGS WOULD BE REPLACED AS PART OF THE RECALL REMEDY IF NECESSARY. SHE WAS INFORMED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER THAT THIS WAS NOT TRUE. THE RECALL REMEDY WAS COMPLETED ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER GUIDELINES. ADDITIONALLY, THE UPPER AND LOWER INJECTOR O-RINGS WERE REPLACED. *AK THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146220

Incident

Dec 5, 2005

Mileage

64,000 mi

PURCHASED 1996 DODGE INTREPID IN MAY 2005. FOLLOWING WEEK HAD TO TAKE CAR BACK TO DEALER RE: BRAKES, TO NO AVAIL. A MECHANIC STATED BRAKES WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. WAS ADVISED THAT TIRES WERE NOT IN SUCH GREAT CONDITION EITHER. KEPT HEARING STRANGE SOUNDS (RATTLING NOISES) FROM THE CAR. IN AUGUST, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CAR WOULD NOT STEER AT ALL. HAD TO TAKE CAR TO MECHANIC, WHO TOLD US FAN BELT HAD COME OFF WHILE DRIVING. POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED AND POWER STEERING LINE. HE ALSO ADVISED THAT RACK AND PINION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. FINALLY, ON AUGUST 26TH, WAS GETTING IN CAR TO DRIVE AND DID NOT GET VERY FAR, WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND FOUND TWO BOLTS ON THE GROUND. PLEASE HELP !!! DISTRESSED. DO WE HAVE ANY RECOURSE HERE? HAVE RECEIPTS, BUT DO NOT HAVE OLD PARTS. *JB *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10134636

Incident

Aug 26, 2005

Mileage

85,000 mi

1996 DODGE INTREPID W/3.5 ENGINE HEARD LOUD BANG,SMOKE AND OIL,KNOCKING NOISE. NO WARNING AT ALL, THE GAUGES WERE IN NORMAL RANGE, NO PRIOR TROUBLE WITH ENGINE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO GOODYEAR TIRE STORE & UPON INSPECTION FOUND TWO (2) HOLES IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE BLOCK NEAR FRONT OF ENGINE ABOUT THE SIZE OF SILVER DOLLAR,WE THINK ENGINE CONNECTING ROD FOR ONE CYLINDER FAILED AND BROKE AT BOTTOM NEAR CRANKSHAFT AND PUNCHED BOTH HOLES IN BLOCK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10137001

Incident

Sep 15, 2005

Mileage

87,500 mi

CONSUMER STATES: THE ENGINE CRADLE MOUNT ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS RUSTED IN THE BACK, AND THE ENGINE MOUNT ON THE LEFT IS STARTING TO RUST IN THE BACK. WAS MAKING NOISE, GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER, AND COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10121694

Incident

May 19, 2005

Mileage

34,500 mi

THE VEHICLE HAS 55000 MILES. THE ENGINE BLEW CONSUMER HAS THE 2.7 LITER ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAS HAD THE PROPER OIL CHANGES, AND THERE WAS NO WARNING UPON THE VEHICLE BLOWING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10113046

Incident

Nov 26, 2004

1996 DODGE INTREPID WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE FUEL IJJECTORS LEAKED FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10128074

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

DEFECT OF TRANSAXLES FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION/PARK INTERLOCK, MANY PARTS IN ENGINE ARE EFFECTED, NEED REPLACEMENT. *BF ENGINE DAMAGE AS A RESULT IN A COLLISION. LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED. *TC

NHTSA ID

10099080

Incident

Jun 30, 2004

THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. A NEW THERMOSTAT WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN. THIS TIME SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO TOLD HER HE THOUGHT THAT HER MOTOR WAS BLOWN. BUT LATER SHE FOUND THAT SINCE THE ENGINE RESTARTED, IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE ENGINE AFTER ALL *JB

NHTSA ID

10097293

Incident

Oct 20, 2004

THE FAILURE OF MY AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. OBSERVED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS. TURNED AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM OFFBRIEFLY. WHEN I TURNED THE SYSTEM ON AGAIN IT NO LONGER WORKED. THE SYSTEM WAS PUTTING OUT WARM AIR. I TAKE IT TO BE REPAIRED AND IT ONLY WORKED A FEW DAYS. THE RESULT IS NO AIR CONDITION SYSTEM, INOPERATIVE. I HAVE PUT SPENT SO MUCH MONEY TO GET THE SYSTEM FIXED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10081242

Incident

May 8, 2002

Mileage

55,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHICH CAME FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE OIL PUMP FAILED AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10055816

Incident

Jan 26, 2004

Mileage

156,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS CAR LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AGO, I HAVE NOT EVEN PUT TWO THOUSAND MILES ON THE CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS QUIT WORKING IN THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR. THE MOTOR HAS BEGUN TO USE OIL AND IS KNOCKING. WHILE DRIVING,THE CAR LOSES POWER AND EVEN DIES. IT ALSO,WHILE IDLING,BEGINS TO REVS THE ENGINE TO AN UNSAFE LEVEL AND YOU MUST SHUT THE CAR OFF. I CONTACTED THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM, GREENE COUNTY AUTO AUCTION & SALES - 6319 HWY. 49 SOUTH PARAGOULD, AR 72450. THE SALESMAN I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND WAS EXTREMALY RUDE WHEN I SUGGESTED THAT HE TRY TO WORK WITH ME ON GETTING THE CAR FIXED OR TRADING IT IN. AS I SAID I HAVE HAD THE CAR BUT A SHORT TIME AND ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE OCCURING. HE ASSURED ME THAT THE CAR WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND THAT HE HAD, HAD IT SERVICED AND CHECKED OUT AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ID

10069736

Incident

Dec 15, 2002

THERMOSTAT BROKE TWICE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WONT STAY OFF, AND THE STEERING WHICH IS SUPPOSEDLY A COMMON DEFECT STOPPED RESPONDING AND IS NOT ABLE TO BE FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10068755

Incident

Nov 15, 2002

AT 56,000 MILES, THE HEAD GASKET ON MY 3.3L DODGE INTREPID WENT ($1,200). 2 MONTHS LATER, THE CAM BEARINGS WENT (ONLY 58,000 MILES), AND THE MOTOR IS RUINED ($2,000 TO REPLACE). *LA

NHTSA ID

10047315

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

58,000 mi

WHEN ANTIFREEZE WAS POURED INTO THE RESERVOIR, IT LEAKED OUT OF THE RADIATOR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10044717

I HAVE A 1996 MODEL DODGE INTREPID. ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF AGO, IN ONE RAINY MORNING I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK, JUST A FEW MINUTES DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE QUIT WORKING... I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE GARAGE AND FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CHECKED, AND WAS TOLD I HAVE A INTAKE GASKET PROBLEM, IT COST ME MORE THAN $300 TO GET IT FIXED. HOWEVER, SIMILAR PROBLEM STILL COMES AND GOES MYSTERIOUSLY AFTER THAT. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS ABOUT 2 MONTH AGO. I KEEP TAKING TO THE AUTO SHOP BUT NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT IS A 3.5 ENGINE AND I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, MAYBE THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023038

Incident

Aug 17, 2001

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED THE O2 SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. THE MECHANIC THEN STATED THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10017878

Incident

Apr 25, 2003

THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED TWO O2 SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10017877

Incident

Apr 18, 2003

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB

NHTSA ID

10011124

Incident

Mar 7, 2003

I OWN A 1996 DODGE INREPID WITH 61,255 MILES ON IT AS OF TODAY ( 1/16/2003). THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE FAILUERS OF THE WATER PUMP AT A COST TO REPAIRE OF $500.00 EACH TIME TO REPAIRE. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE FRONT SUSPENSION FAIL, WHICH COST $1185.00 TO REPAIRE. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN HARD, MILEAGE WILL SHOW MAYBE 10,000 MILES PER YEAR. I FEEL BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SYSTEM THAT THE MANUFACTURE HAS HAD MORE THAN NORMAL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR BOTH THESE PROBLEMS. I THINK A RECALL IS CALLED FOR, AND SOME SORT OF REMIBRUSMENT FOR THE COST OF REPAIRES MADE. ALL MY REPAIRES WHERE DONE BY A GOODYEAR FACILITY OR DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID

10002787

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

Mileage

61,255 mi

WE STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A FLUID LEAK ON THE CAR. THE DEALER, UPON EXAMINING THE CAR, DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING. THEY ALSO DETERMINED THAT 2 BOLTS INVOLVED IN THAT INSTALLATION HAD SHEARED. THERE HAD BEEN NO WORK DONE ON THAT AREA OF THE CAR. HAVING ONLY 55,000 MILES IT SEEMS PREPOSTEROUS THAT THIS IS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE AND THEY HAD NO INTEREST IN THIS SITUATION AT ALL. DT

NHTSA ID

768884

Incident

Oct 1, 2002

WHEN VEHICLE GETS TO OPERATING TEMPERATURER RADIATOR FLUID BACK FLUSHES OUT OF THE FILLER JUG UNTIL THERE IS NO MORE COOLANT IN THE SYSTEM THE MOTOR GETS HOT. I HAVE CHANGED THE RADIATOR FILLER JUG CAP, CHECKED THE HOSES, FLUSHED OUT THE RADIATOR AND DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.*AK

NHTSA ID

763923